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Situation: The caravan of Ceawin of Sunstead has been attacked by an unknown number of giant spiders of Mirkwood...

SPIDERS (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/spiders.jpg)

Combat Advantage dice:
Arbogast 1
Rorin 2

Situation Modifiers:
• Company has initiative [even though ambushed, more than half passed their Surprise tests -  :csu: for those that earned AP]

Physical Modifiers (complications):
• Esgalwen is ensnared, must make an Athletics TN 13 or be held in place and suffer Parry to be halved
• Idunn is ensnared, must make an Athletics TN 13 or be held in place and suffer Parry to be halved
• Rorin is ensnared, must make an Athletics TN 13 or be held in place and suffer Parry to be halved

Mass Combat Status:
• 1 spider dead

PC/NPC	PARRY	ARMOUR	HOPE [HATE]	ENDURANCE
Arbogast Bandy Esgalwen Grimbeorn Idunn Rorin	6/9 [woodcrafty] (shield +3) 9 (shield n/a) 6/9 [skirmisher] (shield n/a) 6/9 [great strength] (shield +4) 6/9 [woodcrafty] 4 (shield n/a)	1d (headgear +1) 1d (headgear n/a) 1d (headgear n/a) none (headgear +1) 2d (headgear n/a) 5d (headgear n/a)	13/16 16/18 10/11 11/12 15/15 10/10	26/26 22/22 13/25 [WOUNDED, WEARY] 31/31 25/25 34/34
Spiders	4 for all	2d for all	2 for all	12 for all

spider1 (G) dead; spider2 (E) dead; spider3 (A) 10/12; spider4 (R) dead; spider5 (I) dead; spider6 (B) dead; spider7 (I) dead; spider8 (G) 7/12; spider9 (R) 8/12

STANCE	TN (+parry)	PC / LMC	Options...
Forward - action order 1 Close combat	TN 6+	Esgalwen	Forward Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/forward.jpg)
Open - action order 2 Close combat	TN 9+	Grimbeorn, Idunn, Arbogast	Open Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/open.jpg)
Defensive - action order 3 Close combat	TN 12+	Rorin	Defensive Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/defense.jpg)
Rearward - action order 4 Ranged combat Must be 2 other PC's in Close Combat May not use if outnumbered 2:1	TN 12+	Bandy	Rearward Stance maneuvers (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/rear.jpg)
Any Escape combat Must start in Rearward or roll TN 10 + highest attribute level of opponents		none	May safely flee from the scene of combat

MASS COMBAT
:~~:	One of the East Bight-men is slain. If rolled again in the following round, Ceawin is gravely wounded.
1, 2	The allies are hard-pressed to hold the enemy back. One of the East Bight-men is wounded – or, if any are already wounded, then one of them is slain. The defensive circle is being pressed - if this is rolled again, the spiders also slay a horse.
3, 4	The East Bight-men hold their line and keep fighting.
5, 6	The allies fight bravely, pushing the enemy back. Black spider blood spills across the forest floor. If this result is rolled twice in a row, then the allies slay one of the spiders!
7, 8	One of the spiders is slain.
9, 10	Two of the spiders is slain.
:g:	Three of the spiders are slain.

Almost without thinking, the Fire-watcher receives the pale, sticky web on his shield, quickly slashing it free. 

As the closest spider turns to press him, he uses a high-bulging root as a makeshift wall, slashing at its twitching mandibles as it approaches. 
As he fights, he tries desperately to read the subtle signs of the forest, hoping that the dark and twisted wood may yet conceal some nearby feature that may be bent to their defence.  But he cannot see past the creatures that beset him, nor hear past the drum of his heartbeat and the scream of Esgalwen. 


:ooc:
I'd like to make use of his Natural Watchfulness ability (pp 112-13), but it doesn't seem like he'd have the time to concentrate while fighting two spiders at once. 

:ooc: It's also obviously distracting him from fighting...  :roll:

 :ooc: did you have a better roll in the previous thread?

You also have a bonus die and Hope.

:ooc: I'd written those off, but then I had a look at the spiders' Parry rating.  Let's give the ol' advantage die a workout:

:ooc: Close enough!  I'll spend Hope to put the total over the top.  :csu:

 :ooc: Is Idunn still able to attack if she is entangled?

 :ooc: Hey Ayrn,

When a spider makes a successful ensnare the following special ability applies:

Seize the Victim: If the creature's main form of attack has hit, the creature may hold on to the target to reduce the mobility of the victim: a seized victim cannot change stance, and sees its Parry rating reduced to half (rounding fractions up).

A hero may free himself by forfeiting his attack and rolling Athletics against a TN equal to 10, plus the Attribute level of the seizing creature.

The seizing creature cannot attack with its main weapon as long as it is seizing the target (but can freely use a secondary attack if it possesses one).

So, you can attack if ensnared but will suffer the defensive consequences, or you use your action this round to free yourself.

Esgalwen worried about poison. She had heard tales of these creatures being deadly poisonous, but this was her first time facing them. Sheer terror was beginning to fill her as she felt the silk webs being weaved tighter around her. All of her friends were engaged and if she did not stop the spider from wrapping her up, the two attacking her could quickly drag her away and no one would know.

The Dúnadan weighed her options and determined that one opponent, even with her body snared, was better than two. With all her strength, she swung at the spider weaving its silk - the one she had wounded moments before. Esgalwen wobbled on her feet as she swung knowing that her defenses would not be strong if she missed.

---

:ooc: Esgalwen attacks the wounded spider
TN 10 longsword 3d, shadow-bane 1d

:dmg: 7   edge: 9   injury: 18

:ooc: It's not a great attack, but it is a success and that makes a kill with 7 END damage.

Arbogast gets a success, too, and does another 5 END damage.

Idunn is still entangled unless she wants to spend a hope - or maybe Ayrn wants to re-consider his action based on the answer I posted to his question.

:ooc: I haven't been keeping track of which spider I've been attacking.  Looking at the top post, I'm not even sure there are still two of them.  Could you give me a quick sitrep, please?

 :ooc: All PC'S started with two spiders attacking them - even Bandy, though he killed one in the first shot before it could leap. Now all PC'S have one spider attacking them - except Arbogast who has two.

One of your spiders has taken 10 END loss; the other is healthy.

The men of Sunstead are also being engaged by 2 spiders each, which you - or I - can engage with.
 

:ooc: Cool, thanks.  I got the impression, based on your description, that the other scout had wounded one of the spiders and I think that's where I got confused. 

 :ooc: I'd like to reconsider and just attack.

A spider suddenly reared up in front of Idunn and, with sticky webbing, attempted to ensnare the woman. The shieldmaiden wasted not a moment, and jabbed the razor sharp point of her spear into the exposed underbelly of the foul creature.

Sindjarfr yipped and growled at the spider, keeping the beast slightly unbalanced.

 :ooc: So, I think Idunn hits the creature for at least 9 damage, plus because she rolled the 8 on the feat die, the spider needs to roll a protection text (TN = 18), yes? The hound also is harassing the spider which make the create count as weary when make the attack (not sure if the would have affected the spider's attempt to ensnare Idunn too?).

In the din of battle Grimbeorn still makes out the cry of his companion Esgalwen and sees her overwhelmed, yet still fighting on.  It is only at the last second that he sees a second spider attack at him that he evades the miserable creature.  Pressed to act, he again swings about the axe that has felled more of these kind than any other throughout the years with the exception of the Elves.  The bear within him begins to roar...

 :ooc:
Targeted strike -

Weapon: 7 D, 10 E, 18 I

:ooc: Grimbeorn misses by 1, unless he wishes to use a point of Hope

Idunn's spider makes a protection test:
TN 18 armour 2d

Though its webs had the shield-maiden wrapped, the spider was distracted by Idunn's great hound too its undoing. The great spear she carried smashed into the creatures hardened outer shell and penetrated deep. The spider flopped onto its back and its legs drew up towards its body in death.

 :ooc: of course he would  ;D

:ooc: With a Hope Point, Grimbeorn does 7 END damage to spider.  :csu:

 :ooc: nice rolls, Tom, but you are engaged in melee now. Last round a spider made a great leap to attack Bandy.

So you'll need to retool.

 :ooc: Open Stance narrative retool to follow

In a moment the spider was upon him. The scope of the battle narrowed immediately for the Hobbit to just to that which was in front of him. Even the struggles of Rorin who was at his side fadded into the background. The spiders were large to the men folk, but for the Hobbit it was a terror as large and fearsome as any spoken of during the ancient days.

The practiced drill of the Hobbit kicked in and he simply dropped his bow at his feet and drew the slender blade the door warden of Mountain Hall had given him. This was for the best anyway for the frightened pony beside him had nearly torn it from the ground in its haste to flee. The Hobbit paid it no mind. While there was terror in his heart for himself and his companions the doughty Hobbit turned that into disgust at the creature before him.
"Come feel the dagger of Mountain Hall, Spider! Here is the bite of the North Farthing you wont soon forget!"
And with that he stabbed at the fanged opening of the beast.

 :ooc: 5 end damage I believe.

 :ooc: Very nice!

You did 7 END, actually due to your Great success.

 :ooc: Just waiting on Rorin here and then I will move us along.

If he is unable to post before the end of the day, I may post for him.

Rorin didn't let the spider's web distract him from what he needed to do. His job was simple, kill these creatures to safeguard the lives of his companions. With his feet stuck to the ground, he continued to fight on.

:ooc:

War Hammer

:dmg: 8    edge: 9    injury: 18

:ooc: Even with an :~~:, Rorin hits for 8 END, but does incur a Called Shot from the spider

PCs' current tactical situation:

• Arbogast - has two spiders attacking him, 1 with 10/12 damage and one healthy
• Bandy - has one healthy spider attacking him (1 has been slain)
• Esgalwen - has one healthy spider attacking her (1 has been slain)
• Idunn - has NO spiders attacking her (2 have been slain)
• Grimbeon - has one spider attacking him with 7/12 damage (1 has been slain)
• Rorin - has one spider attacking him with 8/12 damage (1 has been slain)

:ooc: Spiders attack:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/52987685/spider03.png)
TN by PC (all PC's ensnared have Parry rating halved) sting 2d+3







:dmg: 3    edge: 10   injury: 14 special: poison

:ooc: Spider results:

Arbogast is missed (I forgot he wasn't ensared, so the TN's above are incorrec)
Bandy missed
Esgalwen is hit for 3 END loss  :csu:
Grimbeorn is missed
Rorin is missed

Mass combat roll?

:ooc: I did it on the original second round thread that I accidentally deleted and had to re-post. They scored a second hit to the spiders for a kill. It is marked in the lead post (1 spider dead).

They have a lot more to go! Each PC had 2 spiders on them for an original total of 12; the East Bight men have a total on them of 20-1 = 19, as there were 2 spiders on each of the 10 men.

Understand that if your PC is free from fighting spiders that attacked you, your PC can engage those attacking the East Bight men. Also know that I can bring them into combat against the PC's should I desire.  >:D